Face guard mount for helmets

Abstract

Shock absorbing mounts for the face guard of a helmet having a substantially rigid shell and being connected to the shell allow substantial movements of the face guard relative to the helmet shell in response to forceful blows on the face guard. The mount protects the head of the wearer of the helmet from severe shocks and also prevents severe deformation of the helmet shell likely to crack it. The mount can be installed at all points of attachment of the face guard to the helmet to provide a resilient anchorage for the face guard without loss of security.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a helmet, a substantially rigid helmet shell, a substantially rigid face guard for the helmet, and a yielding shock absorbing mount for the face guard including an anchor element attached to the shell, a connecting element attached to the face guard and having an extension portion engaged movably with the anchor element, and a resilient shock absorbing element engaged between parts of the anchor and connecting elements and yieldingly resisting movement of the connecting element in one direction relative to the anchor element in response to an impact force on the face guard. 
     
     
       2. In a helmet as defined in claim 1, and the connecting element being adapted to yield across the path of movement of the connecting element with respect to the anchor element. 
     
     
       3. In a helmet as defined in claim 1, and the anchor element comprising a bracket having a wall projecting outwardly from said shell and said wall having an aperture, said extension portion adapted to reciprocate within said aperture, and means to retain the connecting element engaged movably with said anchor element. 
     
     
       4. A shock absorbing mount for a helmet face guard comprising a first attaching element adapted for mounting on a helmet shell, a second attaching element adapted for mounting on a helmet face guard and having an extension portion movably engaged with the first attaching element for plunger-like reciprocation relative thereto, and a shock absorbing resilient element held between opposing surfaces of the first and second attaching elements. 
     
     
       5. In a helmet, a substantially rigid helmet shell, a substantially rigid face guard for the helmet, and a yielding shock absorbing mount for the face guard including an anchor element attached to the shell, said anchor element comprising a bracket having a wall projecting outwardly from said shell and said wall having an aperture, a connecting element attached to the face guard and having a shank portion engaged movably with the anchor element and, adapted to reciprocate within said aperture, a head carried by the shank portion, a clip detachably engageable with the shank portion between said head and said wall to retain the connecting element engaged movably with said anchor element, and a resilient shock absorbing element engaged between parts of the anchor and connecting elements and yieldingly resisting movement of the connecting element in one direction relative to the anchor element in response to an impact force on the face guard. 
     
     
       6. In a helmet, a substantially rigid helmet shell, a substantially rigid face guard for the helmet, and a yielding shock absorbing mount for the face guard including an anchor element attached to the shell, said anchor element comprising a bracket having a wall projecting outwardly from said shell and said wall having an aperture, a connecting element attached to the face guard and having a shank portion engaged movably with the anchor element and, adapted to reciprocate within said aperture, means to retain the connecting element engaged movably with said anchor element, and a resilient shock absorbing element comprising a tubing section of resilient material disposed between said wall and a shoulder of the connecting element across the axis of said shank and having a transverse through passage receiving said shank movably and yieldingly resisting movement of the connecting element in one direction relative to the anchor element in response to an impact force on the face guard. 
     
     
       7. A shock absorbing mount for a helmet face guard comprising a first attaching element adapted for mounting on a helmet shell, a second attaching element adapted for mounting on a helmet face guard and being movably engaged with the first attaching element for plunger-like reciprocation relative thereto, and a shock absorbing resilient element comprising a tube section held between opposing surfaces of the first and second attaching elements and having its longitudinal axis across the axis of movement of the second attaching element. 
     
     
       8. A shock absorbing mount for a helmet face guard as defined in claim 7, and the first attaching element including a wall portion extending outwardly of a helmet shell on which the first attaching element is mounted, the second attaching element having a shoulder in spaced opposed relationship to said wall portion and said tube section being held between said shoulder and wall portion and collapsing yieldingly when the shoulder moves toward the wall portion. 
     
     
       9. A shock absorbing mount for a helmet face guard as defined in claim 8, and the second attaching element comprising a strap adapted to embrace a bar of the face guard and including extensions forming a reciprocatory shank, said wall portion having an opening receiving said shank for plunger-like movement therein, and said tube section having a transverse through passage receiving said shank. 
     
     
       10. A shock absorbing mount for a helmet face guard as defined in claim 9, and means connecting said shank releasably with said wall portion. 
     
     
       11. A shock absorbing mount for a helmet face guard comprising a first attaching element adapted for mounting on a helmet shell, a second attaching element adapted for mounting on a helmet face guard and being movably engaged with the first attaching element for plunger-like reciprocation relative thereto, and a shock absorbing resilient element comprising a tubing section of resilient material held between opposing surfaces of the first and second attaching elements. 
     
     
       12. A shock absorbing mount for a helmet face guard as defined in claim 11, and said tubing section having a transverse through passage receiving said second attaching element. 
     
     
       13. A shock absorbing mount for a helmet face guard comprising a first attaching element adapted for mounting on a helmet shell, a second attaching element adapted for mounting on a helmet face guard and being movably engaged with the first attaching element for plunger-like reciprocation relative thereto, and a shock absorbing resilient element held between opposing surfaces of the first and second attaching elements and having a transverse through passage receiving said second attaching element. 
     
     
       14. In a helmet, a substantially rigid helmet shell, a substantially rigid face guard for the helmet, and a yielding shock absorbing mount for the face guard including an anchor element attached to the shell, a connecting element attached to the face guard and being engaged movably with the anchor element, and a resilient shock absorbing element comprising a tubing section of resilient material engaged between parts of the anchor and connecting elements and yieldingly resisting movement of the connecting element in one direction relative to the anchor element in response to an impact force on the face guard. 
     
     
       15. In a helmet, a substantially rigid helmet shell, a substantially rigid face guard for the helmet, and a yielding shock absorbing mount for the face guard including an anchor element attached to the shell, a connecting element attached to the face guard and being engaged movably with the anchor element, and a resilient shock absorbing element engaged between parts of the anchor and connecting elements and having a transverse through passage receiving said connecting element and yieldingly resisting movement of the connecting element in one direction relative to the anchor element in response to an impact force on the face guard.